Buona Beef, Dunkin' Donuts coming to Algonquin

Four commercial projects in Algonquin - including a Buona Beef, Mattress Firm and a Dunkin' Donuts - are moving forward with village board approval.

All are signs more economic growth opportunities lie ahead, a village leader says.

"It's exciting because it really shows that the economy is turning the corner in general and improving," Community Development Director Russ Farnum said. "We have a lot more faith in the future retail market, especially in Algonquin and along the Randall Road corridor."

The more interest retailers have in Algonquin, he said, the more other developers notice and want to invest in the village.

"We're very excited about what's happening," Farnum said.

AT&T and Mattress Firm relocated

Construction will begin soon on a new building located in front of Wal-Mart, just north of Georgia's Restaurant and Pancake House, Farnum said.

When the Millbrook Marketplace was created along Randall Road in the early 2000s, additional lots were also created and left open for future development.

Now, the more than 9,000-square-foot building at 1450 S. Randall Road will house AT&T and Mattress Firm, both of which are relocating from smaller Algonquin locations. Developers are aiming for a spring opening, Farnum said.

"It's good to see stores grow and expand," he said. Plus, he added, that leaves two "prime spaces along Randall Road that we can fill easily."

Health food store, juice bar coming to Main Street

The building that formerly held Luke's restaurant in Algonquin has been vacant for almost six years, Farnum said, but a new owner is hoping to change that.

The restaurant space at 1202 S. Main St., will soon operate as a juice bar and health food store, he said.

The owner will also refurbish and live in an apartment on the main level of the building, he said. Typically, the village requires residential dwellings to be located above commercial space, he said, but trustees gave the owner the OK to keep the apartment the way it is.

"It's been that way for the last 30-40 years," Farnum said. "It's not going to change the character (of Main Street)."

Though Farnum is unsure of an opening date, he expects the owner "wants to get started as soon as possible," he said.

Dunkin' Donuts added to gas station

A new Dunkin' Donuts shop and drive-through will be added to the BP gas station at 1469 S. Randall Road.

An AMPM convenience store inside the gas station formerly operated a cafe, where customers could purchase breakfast food in the morning and sandwiches later in the day, Farnum said. "But that has gone by the wayside a few years ago," he said, adding that other operators have since tried running it as a sandwich shop.

The gas station, convenience store and car wash will all remain functional during construction, Farnum said.

"I'm confident that they want to start moving as soon as possible," he said. "If they can get (construction) done before the snow flies, they'll be in good shape to open early into the new year."

Buona Beef opening on Randall Road

The final plan for Buona Beef to open in Algonquin was approved by trustees this week.

For several months, village staff has been working with developers to bring the restaurant and drive-through to 461 S. Randall Road, between Buffalo Wild Wings and Algonquin State Bank, Farnum said.

In the future, he said, there could be some additional expansion on that property, as a second building pad has been included in the plans.

"It's a fairly large lot for what just Buona Beef needs," he said. "Whether that is an orthodontist office, a mattress store, another restaurant, we don't know yet. That'll be something that happens in the future."

Construction should begin this fall, Farnum said, and developers and restaurant owners hope to open by spring.